Large shallow reefs

[kimros1986]

Hello!

I'm in my head planning the next aquarium. I love the idea of having a larger shallow tank where you get that lovely overview look. I've had two red sea reefers so far but thinking custom made for the next one.

What's the pros and cons of shallow tank other than easy maintenance on the plus and not so much room for big sps colonies on the con side.

Lighting should be more expensive since you cover a larger area? Flow more difficult? Using gyres now but question is if that "sheet" of flow really could go over corals in a shallow reef?

I would love some creative thoughts as well, so please share your pictures of how you've made your large shallow tank, and be honest please about how you like it.

/ Kim from Sweden

 

[glb]

I have a 40g breeder, which some would consider a shallow tank. I love the ease of working in the tank and being able to reach every part of it if needed. I have a gyre in my tank and if it is placed high enough, I think you can do nice rock work without corals getting blasted full force. As far as lighting, I have a 36” t5 fixture, which easily provides light to the entire tank. With LED’s, you might need more, or could adjust the height from the tank. I hope more people chime in. Good luck!

 

[sbash]

I turned one of my lowboys (10" deep) into a coral QT, and laid it out like a display tank. Shallow tanks are a dream to work with, rock-scapes are fun and easy. If I were to do this as a "real" tank, I would put a proper 1" sand bed, the substrate here is about 1/2" at best as it was just what I had at the time.

I would also go with 12 or 14" deep, because the biggest issue is surface agitation. I have a small SunSun powerhead and a small Tunze wave maker on low. So a slightly deeper tank with a couple small Sunsun powerheads would work well, I think. The flow as it is set up agitates the surface, so I can't see down into the tank without shutting it off, therefore when viewing, there is minimal flowy/wavey look to things.

Not a great couple photos, but you get the idea (it's a 4' tank, and these are just random photos I took a couple days ago to catalogue the livestock quickly).

 

[robs.mark]

I’m in the process of setting up a (metric) 100 x 70 x 40, works out to be 73g, so wouldn’t consider it large, but no it’s no nano either. The tank will be sps dominated. For me the cons where, as you explained - more lights, and more flow = more expense, than a “regular 70ish gallon tank. The pros are awesome top-down view, bommie style aquascape, and a bigger footprint for fish. Roughly what dimensions are you thinking?

 

[kimros1986]

I’m in the process of setting up a (metric) 100 x 70 x 40, works out to be 73g, so wouldn’t consider it large, but no it’s no nano either. The tank will be sps dominated. For me the cons where, as you explained - more lights, and more flow = more expense, than a “regular 70ish gallon tank. The pros are awesome top-down view, bommie style aquascape, and a bigger footprint for fish. Roughly what dimensions are you thinking?

OK, seems like I've narrowed down the cons somewhat at least. And the top down view would be really sweet!

My aim is to go for somewhere between 150 to 200 cm long and 70-80 wide, and 40 high.

Right now my home (or wife) won't allow for that kind of tank. But I'll be a really good boy until we move somewhere else and make sure it will have a spot for my next dream tank

 

[DSEKULA]

I have a 50/50 set up. I built a drop off to house different species in different areas. The shallow side is 10". I love my whole setup, I quite literally designed the tank in proportions for my arm length so I can reach everything . That being said the shallow side is way easier to reach and maintain. You don't need your lights to penetrate down as deep so depending on your stock choice a nice fixture hung a bit higher could get a decent spread. I did mine based on par levels etc. In order to provide nice flow I designed the tank with an independent loop system (not tied to the sump). There are 18 individually valved jets in the tank hooked to a recirculation pump so I can direct flow exactly how and where I want it.

 

[kimros1986]

I have a 50/50 set up. I built a drop off to house different species in different areas. The shallow side is 10". I love my whole setup, I quite literally designed the tank in proportions for my arm length so I can reach everything . That being said the shallow side is way easier to reach and maintain. You don't need your lights to penetrate down as deep so depending on your stock choice a nice fixture hung a bit higher could get a decent spread. I did mine based on par levels etc. In order to provide nice flow I designed the tank with an independent loop system (not tied to the sump). There are 18 individually valved jets in the tank hooked to a recirculation pump so I can direct flow exactly how and where I want it.

Good thinking with the par spread sounds logical to hand lights higher due to a more shallow tank. In that way I guess it won't be sps high and lps low, but rather sps underneath the leds and lps in the outer areas of the spots.

I really like the idea of closed loops. Do you have your 18 (!) jets hooked up to the same loops or just an army of return pumps in your sump?

In my current tank I have 2 gyres and a complimentary jebao. I'm wondering if gyres would be an option in a shallow tank as well?